It’s true: I love bloggingย – but I’ve been battling with finding the fine line between personal blogging vs professional blogging.
But let me start at the beginning, as that’s a very good place to start …
Around ten years ago, I began blogging – the blog was an adjunct to the Footprints magazine website. Our web editor thought it would be a good idea if I posted regular news and updates, as the magazine only came out quarterly.
Over time it became much more personal – an insight into the life of the editor behind the magazine.
In fact it became a life raft for me, as I struggled to come to terms with the shock of my mother’s death after being estranged for over 10 years. I began writing out my pain – and it became a series on the Footprints blog, called the “Friday Files”. Each Friday I would share memories or thoughts of my experiences, as the child of a mother tormented by mental illness.
But – hardly anybody read it. I saw other blogs dealing with tough mother issues, and thought mine would really resonate with others – but I couldn’t figure out why these other blogs got so many readers and comments, while mine didn’t.
At the end of 2012, my life changed dramatically following my redundancy, and decision to close Footprints. I decided to become a “professional blogger” – even though I had no idea how I would achieve that, or what it would look like!
And so I launched my next blog, “Redland City Living”, in the hopes that it would become popular with both other bloggers (by this stage I was following many blogs), advertisers, and people living in or visiting my city.
One of the first things I learned as I set out to build a business writing web content for my own and other sites, was the importance of SEO (Search Engine Optimisation).
At last! Here was the answer I’d been looking for. THIS was why nobody visited or read my blogs. It didn’t matter how good it was – forget what Kevin Costner said in “Field of Dreams” – if you build it they will come. That just doesn’t work online!
A year later, I realised my heart wasn’t really in writing a local guide – I *much* preferred personal blogging. So I dumped Redland City Living and launched Middle Aged Mama instead, about my adventures as a middle aged woman learning to fashion a new life now that my kids are grown and no longer need me (quite so much).
By this stage I was also addicted to SEO, and began writing posts on my blog specifically designed to attract web traffic over the long term.
And thus began my struggles with “PERSONAL BLOGGING” vs “PROFESSIONAL BLOGGING”.
So what’s the difference, and why does it matter?
PROFESSIONAL BLOGGING
- The goal of professional blogging is usually one – or a combination of – the following: money, fame, promoting a business, or establishing yourself as an authority on your topic.
- In order to achieve your goal/s, you have to get lots of eyeballs on your blog – so there is a heavy focus on SEO.
- That means, your blogging is guided primarily by what people are searching for online, rather than what you want to write about.
- Professional bloggers are constantly told that their content needs to “be useful”, that they will experience more success if they stick to a “niche” or one particular field, and shouldn’t go off-topic too often, at the risk of push back from their readers.
- There are strategies and fads to follow – for example, jumping on the Facebook Live / Periscope / Google Authorship bandwagon; or only posting perfectly posed photos (if I did that, I’d never post a darn thing LOL).
PERSONAL BLOGGING
- Originally, a blog was an online diary – a log of your thoughts and experiences which was published on the internet. Even the name, “blog”, is short for “web log”.
- A personal blog is as unique and personal as the blogger.
- There is no real goal with true blogging – it’s about blogging for the love of it. It “may” very well be useful to others but that’s not why it exists.
- Personal bloggers write about whatever takes their fancy, and to heck with a “niche”.
- You can follow strategies and fads if you want if you are personal blogging, but if you want to ignore them, that’s fine too. Personally? I’m a big believer in keeping it real!
I have tried to balance both personal blogging AND professional blogging, here at Middle Aged Mama.
Am I a Professional Blogger?
Yes, I like generating a (small!) income income from my blog. I strive to improve my blogging, going to conferences, reading books, etc.
I’ve tried to become a “voice” for middle aged mamas here in Australia.
It’s been useful for promoting my business as a web content writer.
And I’ve even had a brush or two with fame!
You can tell the blog posts I’ve written as a “professional blogger”. They tend to be the ones that are written as a “How to …” or are “useful”. Here’s some examples:
- How to Spoil Your Cat
- What to Wear with Tan Knee High Boots
- French Onion Steak, Easy as 1-2-3!
- Bali Sea Walker Experience
For a while I fell into the trap of thinking that if it wasn’t worth pursuing from an SEO angle, it was a waste of my time to even write it.
But professional blogging has its disadvantages. While I might get lots of search traffic, hardly any come back, let alone follow along. There’s no community or friendship.
Personal Blogging
As a personal blogger, I ramble about my life – memories, experiences, thoughts, other random stuff. It’s not necessarily going to change the world, but I like to think that my words resonate with others, and helps them feel they are not alone. There is no real “point” to some of my posts, but I wrote them regardless:
And of course, the “Sentence a Day” posts each month.
These sort of posts are my fave to write by far but you know what? They posts don’t do well in the search engines. People only read them if they are already following me. But gosh, you guys really seem to like them! I get lots of comments and feedback from you which I love. Personal blogging is like a cup of tea with a good friend!
Finding a Balance
There will probably still be times when I put on my “professional blogging” hat, and I still enjoy learning about it (eg listening to Problogger podcasts). But I take it all with a grain of salt.
In a way I’m lucky, I get to please both sides of my writing brain! I write web content every day for a living, so I get my professional blogging fix that way. Whereas here at Middle Aged Mama, I’m blogging from the heart.
(Although – I will confess I did consider the SEO aspect of what to call this post ๐ . Old habits die hard!)
It seems a shame that “personal blogging” and “pro blogging” tend to be mutually exclusive.
I know that I for one love to read people’s personal experiences, yet often these are the hardest to find in the search engines. How can little solo bloggers compete with huge corporations throwing bucket loads of money into getting found online?
Where are the Little People Online?!
For example: when Miss 21 was looking into getting her earlobes fixed last year after wearing stretchers, all she could find were “medical” type sites – not the personal experiences she was wanting.
So afterwards she begged me to write the post she’d been looking for, which you can read here:ย What it’s like to have earlobe repair surgery. You would think it would have filled that gap and taken off in a big way, but alas,ย it’s pretty much disappeared into cyberspace even after I waved my magic SEO wand over it …
This has been a very long and ranty post about the conflict I feel at times as part of the blogosphere. If you’ve made it this far, thank you! And I’m particularly curious to know, what sort of posts do you prefer here on Middle Aged Mama?!
PS If you enjoyed this post, I came across some others which struck a chord with me, so you may like to check them out too:
- https://lifestylefifty.com/lessons-learnt-from-life/
- http://www.theelginavenue.com/2017/02/thoughts-on-lifestyle-blogging-finding-your-blend-of-content.html
Joining up with friends for ..
Min@WriteoftheMiddle says
I read it all right to the end! I dabble a bit in both but lean more towards being a personal blogger. I like to make a little money now and then from the blog to help cover the costs in running it (and woah there are some costs!!) but I am over any illusions of becoming a full blown professional blogger. I don’t like all the formula’s and ways to achieve that and to be honest, following those leaves me feeling cold. I prefer to write from my heart and build a community of likeminded people. #TeamLovinLife
Janet Camilleri says
LOL thanks for hanging in there Min! Yes it’s nice to be able to cover costs ๐ not too many hobbies where you can do that!
Leanne says
I will be a personal blogger from start to finish Janet. The professionals all seem to slide towards millions of pop up ads, loads of sponsored posts and generally becoming one big sales pitch for whatever “new” idea they’ve written an ebook about.
I love the freedom that comes with blogging as a hobby – I can write about whatever takes my fancy, I’ve made some wonderful friends all over the world, I have plenty of views of my posts (my monthly round-up one always has double my usual views – so people must like the personal aspect).
Blogging makes me smile and has opened up my world – I’ll never be famous, but I’m happy – and that’s what counts for me.
Janet Camilleri says
It’s a slippery slope I think Leanne, and I know there have been times when I have started sliding … but then I grab the slide firmly with both hands and remind myself to KEEP IT REAL!
Kez @ Awesomely Unprepared says
Great post! I am definitely a personal blogger these days. I have dabbled in making it a professional thing – was even a copywriter briefly to help out a friend and have blogged for pay at a separate website, but right now with a new baby and a lot I’ve been through in the past year or more I have liked just doing it for me and not feeling committed to making it a career. I do hope to incorporate more professionalism over time when I feel ready again but right now I’m happy making the rules for myself! I like my blog because I don’t have to compromise or do it for anyone else.
Janet Camilleri says
YES, that’s it Kez. It’s nice to be able to think, “my blog, my way”. Funnily enough that’s what they keep saying in marketing, you can’t target everybody so just be yourself and the RIGHT people will click with you …
Jo Tracey says
I’m in an in-between situation where my blog is also where I showcase my books & want to write about my writing & what inspires it – yet I get little traffic for those posts. I get more traffic for my personal – not that I share very much that’s below the surface – foodie and travel posts. I make no money from my blog & decided early on I wouldn’t do any sponsored content – not because I disagree with this but because it’s my brand. My astro site gets a heap of traffic – without me doing anything much to it – although there is zero cross-over to my personal site. Those readers just want content for free. Conclusions? None really. I love blogging so will continue to do so – & I love writing fiction. If I keep doing both one day the stars will align.
Janet Camilleri says
Interesting about your astro site Jo. Not my bag but clearly there’s a big demand for it (if it’s free anyways!). I like your last comment – just keep doing what you love and hopefully one day the stars will align … sending you fame and fortune … but if they don’t, it’s still been fun!
Ingrid says
Interesting post Janet!
I know that unless I’m specifically looking for some information I need then I much prefer reading personal blogs.
At the moment however I’m doing a course and learning about SEO for the first time. I’d love to attract more readers to my blog through SEO. I have the dilemma however of being told a blogspot site will never rank well compared to a wordpress site so I’m contemplating whether to change over to wordpress or not, and I’m wondering if I will cope with wordpress being a total tech dinosaur!
Of the first world problems and stresses of being a blogger!
Ingrid
Janet Camilleri says
WordPress is actually quite user friendly, and I do recommend making the leap if you can. Oh and be warned: SEO is quite addictive!!!!
Ingrid says
I made the leap! I now have a WordPress blog and a new domain (see below)
so it’s like I’ve started from scratch again!
This time however I’m optimising my new blog for SEO and using key words for the first time in my four year journey of blogging! Even old tech dinosaurs like me can learn!
You’re right – searching for and using keywords for SEO purposes is addictive! What I have the most trouble with is building backlinks. I’m slowly learning and improving!
Ingrid
https://www.fabulousandfunlife.com.au
Janet Camilleri says
I noticed that – good on ya! Building quality backlinks is time consuming, there’s no doubt about it. If only we had more hours in the day!
Jo says
I loved this post because it really resonated with me. Like you I’ve been blogging for nearly 10 years and I’ve loved every minute for various reasons. One of the main ones being all the lovely friends I’ve been fortunate to make online (like you ?). That’s not to say that I don’t go through the “WAAH seriously if it’s regular money I’m after Id be better off getting a job at the supermarket check out counter.” But then a small or big win will appear out of the blue and the planets seem to realign. I like the term ‘multipotentialite’ … I’m interested in lots of things and so are my readers which is good because I’m too much of a scatterbrain to stick to a tight niche just to please the search engines. Like you my blog has morphed into a mix of personal and ‘helpful posts with the accent on trying to be real all the time. I agree, the web needs more real and less (often manipulated) corporate stuff finding its way to the top of search. Lastly, not leastly … and very importantly Thank You Thank You for the very real, lovely jubbly link and mention ??
Jo says
Crikey my emojis turned into question marks! They were smiley faces with hearts xx
Janet Camilleri says
I thought you’d enjoy it after reading your post recently – how could I not link to it – love your work!!!!
Kathy Marris says
I started out as a personal blogger just like you Janet, but then evolved into a travel blogger. I guess my posts are still rather personal because they are about my travel experiences, but I do find these days I write more for SEO and affiliate marketing. I don’t make a lot of money out of blogging but it has led to some pretty cool media trips and a few freebies along the way. I’m still fairly passionate about blogging after 6.5 years and I do like putting a personal touch to my posts. #TeamLovinLife
Janet Camilleri says
I know – so jelly of your trip to Japan!!!!!!! It may not pay so much in $$$ but there are some surprising lurks and perks, as an ambassador for Vivid International (an Australian designed fashion label), I am gifted items from the new collection every 6 months or so which feels a bit like Christmas (the Autumn/Winter package arrived yesterday)!
Life Images by Jill says
Mine is a personal blog with a few how to’s, recipes, travel destinations, and photography tips thrown in. I have been “discovered” a couple of times and had people ring out of the blue wanting to purchase images from me. Which is nice. It is stressful enough putting myself under pressure to blog every week without becoming a “pro blogger”. I confess I had never heard of SEO and will probably go check it out. Every little bit counts doesn’t it to get yourself noticed in the busy overcrowded on-line world. Thanks for the blog post!
Janet Camilleri says
Those random moments are always exciting! Like you, I put a certain amount of pressure on myself to blog, so really don’t need any external pressure or “comparisonitis”!
Deb says
I’ve not earned any $ from my blog for years, though do get free books for review (most of which I give away).
I struggled when I was trying to get some online writing opportunities locally and I used the one website and suddenly became conscious of potential business people (clients) reading the twaddle I include on my blog!
Janet Camilleri says
If you read as much as we both do, free books are good ๐
Leanne @ Deep Fried Fruit says
I read that entire post! And remembered fondly of our Pro Blogger trip.
I’m a personal blogger for sure. I enjoy your personal blogs the most. But that’s just because I like you and love to know more about you.
I remember Redland City Living. That’s how I first “met” you. xoxo
Janet Camilleri says
Love your posts too Leanne. My one regret as life (and my business) has gotten busier, is that I have less time to visit and read the blogs that matter to me xxx
Jan Wild says
See, so all us bloggers read to the end, maybe some of us hoped you had a magic formula for blending both ๐ I would describe myself as a mixture, sorry can’t pick one. I hope for our posts to be informative whether they are sponsored or not, that is there is at least one nugget of helpful information. I am very choosy with sponsored posts, which is good because I don’t anticipate making my fortune that way! I love the brands I have worked with but a lot of that happens on Instagram and Facebook rather than on the blog so I guess that makes me a personal pro (which sounds pretty dodgy doesn’t it)
Janet Camilleri says
LOL Jan, I wish I had that magic formula!
Jodie says
What a great read, Janet!!
It would be so nice to actually make money, yet do what we want and love at the same time. I never thought about making money on my blog at first, but once you spend so much time (and pay for many aspects of it), it does help!!
XOXO
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com